Israel Close to War After Rocket Barrage from Gaza

ICEJ News Briefs

Residents of southwestern Israel spent much of Wednesday night and early Thursday morning in bomb shelters as over 200 mortars and rockets were fired at them by terrorists in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip. The IDF retaliated by hitting over 100 military facilities run by Hamas, while the Iron Dome air defense system shot down 25 incoming projectiles. However, several rockets evaded the Iron Dome and landed in populated areas, including a preschool and several residential buildings in the city of Sderote.

"The Hamas terrorist organization continues to carry out acts of terror against Israeli citizens and the defense infrastructures that protect them, violates Israeli sovereignty and endangers the citizens of Israel and the security forces," the IDF statement read. “The IDF is prepared for a variety of scenarios and is determined to fulfill its mission of defending the citizens of Israel.”

A Thai woman who lives in Sderote as a guest worker was seriously wounded by shrapnel from an incoming rocket, with several other people reportedly being treated for other injuries, shock and trauma. Inside Gaza, the Hamas Ministry of Health reported three deaths and several injuries from Israel’s retaliatory strikes.

IDF Chief of Staff Says Military Ready for Action if Necassary

IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Gadi Eisenkot told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Wednesday that “The IDF is better prepared than it has been in the last 20 years” and “has a great advantage over its enemies based on our operational, intelligence and technological capabilities.” In related news, the IDF celebrated some milestones this week, including appointing the first female commander of an intelligence squadron.

Also this week, Capt. Or Na’aman, the 138th Battalion’s Patriot battery commander, was awarded a certificate of appreciation from the commander of the IAF, Maj-Gen. Amikam Norkin, for her battery’s recent downing of a military aircraft attempting to violate Israeli airspace.

Iranian Supreme Leader Gives Laconic Dismissal of Sanctions

Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, posted a laconic statement on his official website this week declaring that the Islamic Republic has “nothing to be concerned about” despite the re-imposition of US sanctions on the country’s economy and a growing protest movement. "With regard to our situation do not be worried at all,” the post said. “Nobody can do anything. They can be sure. There is no doubt about this."

Israeli Athlete Wins Gold at European Championships

Kenyan-born Israeli long-distance runner Lonah Chemtai Salpeter emerged victorious Wednesday from the women’s 10,000-meter run at the 2018 European Athletics Championships in Berlin with a time of 31 minutes, 43.29 seconds. “I still don’t believe it,” she said afterwards. “I’m really happy. I dreamed of this, but I didn’t believe it happened.”